Apparatus for purifying sewage



(No Model.)

J. G. HEYWOOD.

APPARATUS P0P. PUMFYING SBWAGE. No. 392,606.

a? '11T/512ml.

N. Panni PlwwuAnwgmplm. wasn-imm n. c.

- showing mechanism constructed in accordtrie l JOHN G. HEYW'QOD, 4OFVVORGESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING SEWAGE.

4 SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,606, datedNovember 13, 1888.

Application filed January 1G, 1888 .To @ZZ whom, i may concer/"t:

Be it known that I, Jer-IN G. Hnrwoon, a citizen of the United States,residing at Worcester, in the county of Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Purifying Sewage, of which the following,together with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification sufficient] y full, clear, andexact to enable persons skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains to make and use the same.

The object of my present invention is to pro"- vide an efficientmechanism in which forced pressure is employed for separating the solidsfromtheliquidin thepuriiication ofsewage, and also to afford convenientmeans for cleansing the ltering-surface and discharging` the sludgewhile the apparatus is in continuous operation. These objects I attainby mechanism the nature, construction, and operation of which areexplained in the following description, the particular subject-matterclaimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

' In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view; and Fig. 2 is a verticalsection at line X X,

ance with my invention.

My improved mechanism comprises a tank or chamber, into which the sewageis delivered, a submerged perforated suction-box, over which acontinuously-traveling lteringbelt which passes into and from the tankis drawn while the interior of said suction-box is exhausted by asuitable pumping` mechanism, a set of guiding-rolls that carry theilterbelt in such manner that only one surface is exposed to theunltered sewage, and devices whereby the filtering-belt is cleared as itadvances and the sludge removed therefrolmthe mechanism being organizedfor operation as a filtering-engine, as follows:

Referring to parts, A denotes the supplypipe, through which the sewageenters from any source, a suitable gate being provided for regulatingthe dow and quantity delivered as required.

B denotes the tank, reservoir, or chamber into which the sewage isdelivered for treatment.

C indicates the suction-box, which is dis- Serial No. 260,946. (Nomodel.)

posed in an inclined position within the tank B and provided with aperforated top plate or grating, C, that occupies a submerged positionwhen the tank isV filled and the sewagewater is at its normal level, asindicated at S in Fig. 2.A The suction-bex is completely closed, exceptthe perforations of the grating C and the exit-passage or suction-pipeC,

.D and D indicate guiding-rollers arranged in recesses at the ends ofthe suction-box, and E denotes an operating-drum located outside thetank,which rolls and drum, together with the guide-roll F', support andcarry the endless traveling iiltering-belt F, which beltpasses aroundthe suction-box C, fitting against its bottoni and top surfaces andagainst the rolls- D D', and seated closely upon the grating C andentirely covering the openings in the same. The roll F is placed so asto guide the filter-belt over the front rim of the tank, and also insuch position as to direct said belt against the face of roll D', abovethe surface level of the sewage S. Thus one face of the filtering-belt'-that which runs against the suction-box-is protected from contamination,the sludge being deposited. only upon the outer surface of saidfilter-belt. The belt F may be made wholly or in part of fibrousmaterial-as cloth, felt, or other suitable fabric*and with metalstrengtheni11g-strands, if desired. stances a belt made of linewoven-wire fabric, provided along its edges with a binding or border ofcloth, rubber fabric, or other material, for strengthening the beltandgiving bearing along its edges on the surface of thev Iilter-box.

The suction-box C is preferably constructed and disposed to overhang orproject from the side of the tank, the bearings d d of the rolls D andD/ being attached to the suction-box, so that the end of saidsuction-box will stand clear of any support other than that of its end,which is connected with the frame or side of the tank. This overhangingconstruetion permits of the filter-belt F being readily slipped on andoff the suction-box and rolls D D laterally within the tank for renewalor repairs, the tank B being made of sufficient width to accommodate andpermit the convenient removal of the belt laterally. The

I also propose to use in some in- IOO filtering-belt covers thesubmerged suctionbox grating, so that the liquid enteringthe suction-boxpasses through the filtering-belt.

A suitable exhauster or pump, G, is couneeted with the pipe C2, leadingfrom the suction-box, which, when operated by steam or other power,tends to produce a partial vacuum Within the suction-box, thus inducing`a forced pressure or suction oftheliquid through the grating C andcorresponding portion of the filtering-belt F, the same being at aposition wholly submerged beneath the sewage, while no material pressureis exerted at other portions of the belt.

The drum E is mounted on standards or a frame, I-I, which is adjustablefor straining and loosening the filtering-belt F, said frame beingsupported on guideways 7i and provided with an adjusting-screw, K, (oneor more,) arranged to be operated for moving the drum lfl toward or fromthe tank B by the shaft and hand-wheel Il, and suitable gearing combincdtherewith. The shaft of the drum E is provided with a pulley, E, for adriving-belt, or with other suitable means for effecting rotation ofsaid drum for operating the filteringbelt F from any elicient motor.

.I indicates a scraper for removing the sludge from the filtering-beltF. Said scraper eX- tends across the belt on the face of the drum E, andis supported on suitable hangers, J at its ends, springs j beingprovided for pressing the scraper against the surface of the belt.

I and I indicate revolving brushes that sweep the surface of thetraveling filteringbelt. Said brushes are mounted on bearings on theframe H, and are rotated by suitable belts on their pulleys fi', i', andI2.

L indicates a striker bar or beater for shaking that portion of thefiltering-belt which is between the drum l and the guide-roll F at theedge of the tank. Said beater consists of a bar mounted on the ends ofswinging arms l, that are pivoted on the frame II and vibrated by camsor lugs on the shaft of the brush I, or in other equivalent manner.

A. trough or inclined floor, M, is arranged beneath the drum andbelt-clearing devices `for receiving the semi-liquid sludge which fallsfrom the filtering-belt and directing it .into the conveyer N, wherebyit is carried to a suitable receiving-vat or other convenient place ofdeposit.

O indicates the outlet, provided with a stopgate, l?, for draining offthe contents of the tank B when desired to clean it out or for repairs.

P indicates the pipe for carrying off the contents to any desired placeor to be pumped back into the head-reservoir.

The suction-boxl C is preferably made with a man-hole having watertightcover, as at m, to permit access to the interior thereof.

In'the operation of my apparatus the sewage is -delivered to the tank B,and by the pump G is drawn out from the suction-box C, while thefiltering-belt F is advanced by a centiiiuous forward motion in thedirection indi-- cated on Fig. 2. The sewage-water passes from the tankdown through the belt F and gratings C into the submerged suction-box.and thence to the exhauster or pump G, and leaves the solid matter orsludge deposited upon the outer surface of the filter-belt F, where itreposes while it is carried up the ineline, out of the tank, and overthe drum Eto the scraper J, which scraper removes the greater portion ofthe sludge from the belt,-

the balance being removed by the brushes I I and beater L, and it fallsupon the trough M and drips through the conveyer N, by which it iscarried to the desired place of deposit, the solids being thusdischarged by way of said conveyer, While the effluent Water or liquidis discharged through the leader of the pump at G.

In another application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 260,945, I havedescribed a filtering-enginesuch as herein claimed-as employed inconnection with other mechanism in a plant for treating sewage; and theclaims in this my present case embrace features of construction in thefiltering-engine itself, while the claims of my other applicationembrace the lcombination of a filtering-engine with other mechanisms.

I am aware that movable screens and belts of filtering material haveheretofore been employed for various purposes, and I do not thereforemake claim, broadly, to a traveling lteubelt irrespective of theconstruction and arrangement of mechanism wherein such belt is employed.

Vhat I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination, with the receivingtank, of a stationary submergedperforated suction-box, an endless filtering-belt traveling over saidsuction-bex, and means for exhausting the air and water from theinterior of said suction-box, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the submerged suction-box supported at inclinedposition and having openings in its top, the inclined filtering-beltseated upon and traveling over the openings of said suction-box, and anexhauster for sucking air and Water therefrom, substantially as and forthe purpose 'set forth.

3. A filtering-engine consisting of a tank having inlet and drainagepassages, a submerged siiction-box having a perforated side or gratingfixed within said tank, an exhausterpump connected with the interior ofsaid suction-box, and an endless filtering-belt disposed in inclinedposition to travel over the surface of said submerged suction-boxgrating, in combination With a belt-operating drum and beltclearingmechanism located outside of said tank and operating substantially ashereinbefore set forth.

4. The combination, substantially as dcscribed, of the tank B, thesubmerged suctionbox C, having the grating C', the guiding-rolls l), D',and F', the inclined filtering-belt F, and

IOO

IIO

the operating-drum E, for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, substantially as de scribed, of the tank B, thesuctionbox C, having the grating C', guide-rolls D, D', and F, theendless traveling lteringbelt F, the scraper J and its operating-drum E,and sludge-conveyer N, for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the tank B, the inclined submerged suction-boxC, and endless traveling filtering-belt F, of guide-rol1s D D, fitted torecesses in the ends of said suctionbox, and the guide-roll F', disposedin position to direct the filtering-belt against the sur face of theroll D above the Water-level, as hereinbefore set forth, whereby onlythe outer surface ofthe fllteringbeltis presented for contact With theunfiltered sewage.

7. An overhanging suction-box supported upon and projecting from theside of the tank, in combination with the filtering-belt, beltcarryingrolls, and a tank of sufficiently greater Width than the suction-box topermit the removal of the lteringbelt from said suction-box laterallyWithin the said tank, as hereinbefore set forth.

8. The combination, with the eonveyer N, trough M, liltering-belt F, andits operatingdrum E, of the scraper J, rotary brushes I I', and beaterL, for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, with the tank, suctionboX, traveling lteringbelt,its operatingdrnm, and a guiding-roll, F', disposed near the edge of thetank, of a beater, L, arranged for acting upon that portion ofthe beltbetween said drum and guiding-roll, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

l0. The combination, substantially as described, with the suction-box,guidingrolls, endless traveling filteringbelt, and belt-operating drum,of the adjustable drum-supporting frame H, its adj usting-screw 7L and.screwoperating gears, and shaft H', for the purposes set forth.

Vitness my hand this 7th day of January, A. D. 1888.

JOHN G. I-IEYWOOD.

Witnesses:

CHAs. H. BURLEIGH, ELLA P. BLENUs.

